The adventures, stories, and inspirations of Sister Jaynanne Petersen while serving an LDS mission to Vancouver, Canada, as recorded by her mom...

Monday, August 12, 2013

I've Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

HEY Whaz Up my fellow Saints?!

haha alright where to begin.. Well the church is true. We got that covered. check. This past week was just Eh. Nothing too exciting to share about. Oh the other day, We had just got back into the car after going to a no show of a lesson and I look up and watch this squirrel get ran over by a car! what? true story. It was a bit disturbing if I do say so myself. I didn't know if I should take that as a sign or something.. at any rate, it was gross.

Yesterday Sister Gale and I taught our Gospel Principles class and afterward, we handed out these smarties that we rolled up in sticky notes which had a message on it! Everyone loved it! The Elders were like Ah man.. we got to do that! ha ya that's right.

So up here, everyone drives around these old fashioned cars! Like...they are everywhere! I love it sooooo much. They all come out during the summer apparently. It's so cool to see them. they are so nice lookin' too. Like they take really good care of them. I want one! Speaking of cars, I saw a crappy purple scion the other day.. I was like ha that's funny. Anywho, last Friday we went on Exchanges! I stayed here in Brookswood with Sister Galbraith who is our District Supervisor and in the YSA ward. I love her! Exchanges are soo fun. We were walking down the street and this guy on a bike peddled past us and this lady was riding on his handle bars and was facing him and had her arms around him. haha it was weird and as they went by we kinda stopped talking and just like stared at them.. haha weird. Maybe they were on a first date and he was trying to impress her! who knows. young love. so presh.

So our Relief Society lesson was way good yesterday.First off, the lady who teaches reminds me so much of my mommy. We went over to her house and it's just like mom. The yard. the porch. the chickens. everything. She even had random furniture from a yard sale, drying from her paint job! Anywho, she taught this lesson about how we just need to love ourselves and be positive. She said that we need to compliment ourselves and not be so hard on ourselves and negative all the time.. give ourselves credit! She told some really good stories.. One of which she went off on how often someone will do something and we will be like, "oh you are just like me!" She said that is such a great and positive compliment to ourselves because usually whoever you are saying that too is someone you really respect or admire. Then someone raised their hand and said that we should picture the Lord saying that to us. For some reason that hit me so hard. So I tried to picture him saying that to me.. like when I get over OCD or stressed or when I want things to be perfect or when I try my very best to get the most out of lessons or the scriptures or my studies or people.. or when I try to listen to the promptings of the Spirit or say the right things or be a good example or plan effectively.. or even when I'm annoyed or frustrated or sad and discouraged.. I just sat there and pictured him saying, "Jaynanne, you are just like me!" It brought me a lot of comfort and it helped me to know that the Lord is on our side and he is right there with us through thick or thin. We are NEVER alone and he knows exactly what we are going through.I Jaynanne Petersen Know that I am a Daughter of God. I know he loves me and thinks about ME all the time. I know he just wants me to be happy and gain experiences and enjoy life! Words can not express how much I love MY Savior. I am so grateful for the Atonement and I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that this church teaches and is the same teachings that Jesus Christ taught when he was on the earth. I know that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and I know that we have a living day Prophet named Thomas S. Monson who loves us and is constantly seek revelation on how to help us live in such a way that we can return to be with our Heavenly father and His Son and our Families forever. I have the most amazing family and friends. Thank you thank you thank you for just everything.

You are my sunshine on a cloudy day. You are my rock. You are my everything.

Thank you so much for loving me and supporting me. I hope you all know how much God loves you. Your Soul is So great in His Sight! He see so much potential in you! Never forget that you have the best gift ever called the Holy Ghost. Use it. I love you all!

By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. keep calm and carry on.

BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE. 1-10-15.

Life is good. don't be hard on yourself.

God loves you just the way you are and really, his opinion is the only one that matters.